Trying Horizons for the first time...

Zuran

Hello all Horizon fans!

OK, like the title says, I plan on trying Horizons. However, I have a few questions that I hope you Horizon fans can answer.

First, is there actually any classes? Sorry if this is a some-what newbish answer, but the Horizons website does not mention anything about classes.

Second, how easy is it to solo in the game? Are groups mandatory like in Final Fantasy XI, or only in dungeons/end game content like World of Warcraft, and Everquest II?

Third, How are the Trade Skills in Horizons? Are they complex, or rather simplistic, like in World of Warcraft? I also heard that Trade Skills are sort of mandatory, again, is this true?

Fourth, how is leveling in this game? Is there an intense grind ala Everquest? Or a nice, fun process ala World of Warcraft?

Fifth, so, how is the questing? Are there lots of quests? Do the quests require a party most of the time or can you solo them, too?

Sixth, how is the end game content? Anything special other then instance running 24/7? Are there any instances even?

And the last question, what is the leveling process like? Do you get stat points per level? And what is the max level, too?

P.S. How are Dragons implemented in Horizons?

ungrimagrol

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Originally posted by Zuran

Hello all Horizon fans!

OK, like the title says, I plan on trying Horizons. However, I have a few questions that I hope you Horizon fans can answer.

First, is there actually any classes? Sorry if this is a some-what newbish answer, but the Horizons website does not mention anything about classes.

Yes there are both adventure classes and crafting classes - tons of them - you can see them here.  You can also multiclass, i.e. change adv or crafting class anytime you choose.  You level up in both a craft class and an adventure class as you wish to.

Second, how easy is it to solo in the game? Are groups mandatory like in Final Fantasy XI, or only in dungeons/end game content like World of Warcraft, and Everquest II?

Horizons is very solo friendly, largely because of multiclassing.  No matter what main class someone chooses, people often take a few levels of cleric for heals and other classes for various special abilities they bestow, for example.  But even without this, people can and do solo the entire game.  Grouping is fun too, however. 

Third, How are the Trade Skills in Horizons? Are they complex, or rather simplistic, like in World of Warcraft? I also heard that Trade Skills are sort of mandatory, again, is this true?

Tradeskills in Horizons are robust.  You gather resources and then craft them into processed goods and to final products.  Tools and weapons are customizable in terms of stats and armor is also customizable in colors.  It used to be that every equippable item in the game was player crafted but now there is some loot and also some basic armor you can buy from npcs.  But the crafted goods are often the best in the game.  You don't HAVE to craft if you don't want to, but it does add a dimension to the game. 

Another aspect of the game is that you can own a piece of the game world and build your own little homestead on it.  So in addition to tradeskills there are construction skills.

Fourth, how is leveling in this game? Is there an intense grind ala Everquest? Or a nice, fun process ala World of Warcraft?

Well just like in EQ and WoW you can turn it into a grind if that's what you make the game into.  Leveling through the first 20 levels is a lot faster than in EQ or CoH, I've found.  The combat system is not mana based, and there is little down time.  Also there are lots of cool spells and abilities.  You get a new ability every level at first and then every other level, which is cool.

Fifth, so, how is the questing? Are there lots of quests? Do the quests require a party most of the time or can you solo them, too?

There are two games really:  the biped game and the dragon game.  If you choose to play a biped, there will seem to be few quests in comparison to WoW.  Crafting trainers give out crafting quests, but the adventure quest system is different.  There are two kinds of npcs you get quests from: trophy hunters and town marshalls, who you will find in the main cities.  There are other quests that are are exploring type quests that you get from various npcs, such as Imperial Assessors and The Wishgiver.  The trainers give out coming of age quests in some schools at around level 20. 

The dragon game however is very quest oriented and you can level up through the game just doing crafting and adventure quests that are needed to get you to the point where you can undergo the Rite of Passage from hatchling dragon to adult dragon, able to fly.

Sixth, how is the end game content? Anything special other then instance running 24/7? Are there any instances even?

Nothing in horizons is instanced and there are not even zones (except arguably some islands that you can only port to).  It is one big, seamless world.  The level cap at preset is 100.  There is no end game per se like there is in Everquest, for example.  What people generally do when they hit 100 is switch schools and develop their character in another way.  There are people who have achieved the level cap in multiple schools, and a couple master craftsmen around.

And the last question, what is the leveling process like? Do you get stat points per level? And what is the max level, too?

P.S. How are Dragons implemented in Horizons?

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Finally, you can get a lot of information at the official forums here.

Psikorps

First, is there actually any classes? Sorry if this is a some-what newbish answer, but the Horizons website does not mention anything about classes.

• Yes there are classes, but you can change them at any time through the use of "Schools" this way you are able to try all the diffrent classes without having to delete a character each time you wish to change. You get 2 classes at a time, like a Monk/Ranger or Mage/Fighter....they can be changed at any time if you get sick of them or just wanna try something diffrent.

Second, how easy is it to solo in the game? Are groups mandatory like in Final Fantasy XI, or only in dungeons/end game content like World of Warcraft, and Everquest II?

• Its quite easy to solo, I was solo for my first 50 levels in the game. Groups are more like WoW and EQ2 where they are only needed for the "Uber" encounter type stuff.

Third, How are the Trade Skills in Horizons? Are they complex, or rather simplistic, like in World of Warcraft? I also heard that Trade Skills are sort of mandatory, again, is this true?

• Horizons despite being rather common style as far as MMOG's go "Go here, kill this, return, deliver this, wash, rinse, repeat" It has one of the best crafting systems I have seen in well over a decade of MMOG game play experience.
• about 99% of all of the items in the game are player made....only the blueprints for the items and the base materials are MOB droped, everything else is crafted.

Fourth, how is leveling in this game? Is there an intense grind ala Everquest? Or a nice, fun process ala World of Warcraft?

• Mixed bag, by this I mean if you are just going for the levels you will really notice a grind, however If you do quests and dont watch the xp bar every 30-40 min you will find that you can gain quite a few levels easily each day and never feel like your grinding.
• It is more of a grind then WoW for sure, but not even close to as bad as EQ2.

Fifth, so, how is the questing? Are there lots of quests? Do the quests require a party most of the time or can you solo them, too?

• There are loads upon loads of quests, as I stated earlier I made it to lvl 50 or so before getting into groups. Solo questing is not difficult, and grouping is not required.

Sixth, how is the end game content? Anything special other then instance running 24/7? Are there any instances even?

• I dont belive I have ever come across a instance in the game, and dont think I have heard of them in there either. End game content for myself and several others more or less consisted of building up our crafting skills (which are like the classes and you can change them at any time if you want) and other classes. I never took part in raids, although I know people who have and talked highly about them.

And the last question, what is the leveling process like? Do you get stat points per level? And what is the max level, too?

• Max level is 100 if they have not raised it. When you level you get points like stat points you can use in diffrent areas of your class types.

P.S. How are Dragons implemented in Horizons?

• Quite well, as a playable race I was "iffy" at first, but they were nicely done. they have their own types of armor and stuff. Also they are the only race able to get Flight which I hear is very handy in some situations they even have their own way of crafting.

Zuran

Thanks ungrimagrol, and Psikorps for the quick and well done answers. The game sounds very interesting, so I will be trying the trial version.

DoomReaper

I see you've got two helpful responses already, so I won't repeat answers but instead welcome you to Istaria and wish you a fun and memorable experience in Istaria

Khoal

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Originally posted by Zuran
Thanks ungrimagrol, and Psikorps for the quick and well done answers. The game sounds very interesting, so I will be trying the trial version.

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Welcome aboard!  Just as a suggestion, if possible try to make characters on both the Order (RP) and Chaos (regular) shards.  This will allow you to interact with the different players out there.  Hope you have fun!